Reimagining Democracy: Social Media as a Tool for Political Change in Malaysia

Shabya Rani Suna

Democratisation, Malaysia, Social Media, Internet, 2013 & 2018 GE.

The advent and proliferation of social media have significantly transformed the democratic landscape, particularly in hybrid regimes such as Malaysia, where state-controlled media has historically monopolized public discourse. This article reimagines democracy through the prism of digital communication technologies, arguing that social media has emerged as a critical site for political engagement, civic participation, and the amplification of marginalised voices. By examining the intersection between digital platforms and democratic reform, this study explores the extent to which social media functions as a catalyst for political change in Malaysia. Focusing primarily on the 13th and 14th General Elections (GE13 in 2013 and GE14 in 2018), it assesses how digital activism and online campaigning reshaped voter behavior, influenced electoral outcomes, and disrupted conventional channels of political communication. As Malaysia continues its democratic evolution in an increasingly digitalized public sphere, understanding the dual potential of social media both as an emancipatory force and a tool of control remains essential for evaluating the prospects and perils of digital democracy.

Published Paper   E-Certificate

"Reimagining Democracy: Social Media as a Tool for Political Change in Malaysia", TIJER - TIJER - INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL (www.TIJER.org), ISSN:2349-9249, Vol.12, Issue 4, page no.a842-a849, April-2025, Available :https://tijer.org/TIJER/papers/TIJER2504122.pdf

Volume 12 Issue 4, April-2025

Pages : a842-a849

Paper Reg. ID: TIJER_157596

Published Paper Id: TIJER2504122

Downloads: 000285

Research Area: Arts1 All

Country: Balangir, Odisha, India

Published Paper PDF: https://tijer.org/TIJER/papers/TIJER2504122

Published Paper URL: https://tijer.org/TIJER/viewpaperforall?paper=TIJER2504122

ISSN: 2349-9249 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.57 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2014

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.57 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

Publisher: TIJER (IJ Publication) Janvi Wave

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and The Open Definition